The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is the world's most prestigious and authoritative event in the classic car arena, staged annually every August since 1950 on the 18th fairway of the Pebble Beach Golf Links in California. What fundamentally sets it apart from standard motor shows or speed trials is its ethos: it is a "competition of elegance" judged strictly on historical accuracy, technical merit, and design elegance, rather than outright speed or monetary value.
The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance operates strictly on an invitation-only basis, accepting only the finest and most representative vehicles globally. For its 75th edition in 2026, over 218 vehicles qualified for main concours judging, spanning early 1900s veteran and vintage motors through to classic models from the 1970s. Judging centres on three core pillars: historical accuracy (whether the vehicle faithfully retains or mirrors its original factory specification or period-correct condition), technical merit (engineering prowess, mechanical innovation, and coachbuilding craftsmanship), and design elegance (body proportions, styling lines, and colour scheme).
The ultimate accolade, "Best of Show", is awarded to the premier entry picked from among the respective class winners, with the victor presented with an engraved Rolex timepiece. This honour is widely acknowledged as the pinnacle achievement in the global historic vehicle fraternity.
Best of Show Winner: Clark Gable's Duesenberg SSJ
Claiming top honours at the 2026 Best of Show was the 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster from the Harry Yeaggy collection. This car is one of merely two Duesenberg SSJ examples ever built; while its sibling was famously owned by Hollywood star Gary Cooper, this winning example was originally delivered to screen legend Clark Gable. Built on a short-wheelbase chassis derived from the Model J, the SSJ is powered by a supercharged straight-eight engine producing nearly 400 hp—a staggering performance benchmark for 1935.
Preserved in single-family stewardship by the Ferrara family for over six decades, the car recently underwent a meticulous restoration back to its factory-original black exterior coachwork and light Saddle leather interior. This triumph marks Yeaggy's second overall Best of Show victory, having previously clinched the title in 2007 with another Duesenberg. This win takes Duesenberg's tally to 8 Best of Show titles at Pebble Beach, reinforcing its reign as the most successful American marque in the event's history.
Final Nominees
Shortlisted alongside the winning Duesenberg for the ultimate prize were: a 1938 Delahaye 165 Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet, a 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta, and a 1954 Ferrari 375 America Vignale Cabriolet.
Auction Market Dynamics
The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is inextricably linked with the concurrent Monterey Car Week auctions. Total auction turnover for the 2026 Monterey sale week hit an astounding RM3,328,155,000 (USD 747.9 million), surging 73% over 2025's RM1,925,960,000 (USD 432.8 million) and far outstripping Hagerty's initial RM2,091,500,000 to RM2,225,000,000 (USD 470–500 million) estimate. Gooding Christie's, the official auction house of the Concours, posted sales of RM707,550,000 (USD 159 million) in a single auction with a remarkable 94% sell-through rate across 158 lots. The star of the auction was a 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, which crossed the block for a record-breaking RM190,927,250 (USD 42.905 million), setting an all-time auction record for an American-built motor car.
Alongside the main competition, the event hosts the renowned Concept Lawn, an exhibition dedicated since 1989 to previewing cutting-edge concept cars and all-new production debuts, offering a seamless dialogue between heritage and future mobility. For 2026, Mercedes-Benz showcased its "Future Classics Auction House" showcase, headlined by a bespoke Maybach S 680 duo commissioned by LeBron James, exhibited alongside historic icons like the 1938 540K Streamliner. Mercedes-Benz remains the most decorated marque in Pebble Beach history with 10 Best of Show victories. Meanwhile, Jaguar presented five legendary historic models alongside an interior design preview of the all-electric Type 01 GT, with a lineup featuring the D-type, XKSS, E-type, and Princess Diana's bespoke XJ-S Cabriolet.
While the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is open to public ticket holders, vehicle entry is strictly vetted via formal invitation or a stringent committee selection process. Following the 2026 edition on 16 August, the 2027 showcase is slated for 15 August. For classic car collectors, industry professionals, and enthusiasts, Pebble Beach is not merely an elite showcase and concours battleground, but the definitive global benchmark setting annual collector market values, restoration standards, and automotive cultural trends.
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